This course provides a broad overview of the three main approaches used in social science research: quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods. More specifically, emphasis is placed on students becoming scholarly consumers of research, able to make appropriate literature-research question-results interpretation-application assertions.

Research is integral to knowledge production, regardless of discipline; it is the heart of social inquiry. In a post graduate degree program, one important goal is to train the graduate student to be a disciplined, productive researcher. By reviewing various research methods and issues of epistemology, the student taking this course will make significant strides towards attaining that goal and in turn, be better prepared to successfully complete his/her post graduate degree program.

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After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (6)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. The student will complete discussion threads in two parts.  First, the student should post a new thread of 300-500 words in response to the provided prompt. Then, the student should reply to 2 classmates’ threads. Each reply should be 150 words. (CLO: A, B, C, E, F)

The student will complete a chart that will allow him/her to define, explain, and discuss the three research methods. (CLO: A, B).

The student will write a critique of one of the two quantitative articles selected (and read) from the readings (articles) provided in the Learn section. The critique should be a double-spaced 3—5-page review of the study’s purpose, theory, methods, and major findings. The critique should also follow current APA Professional Standards and should match the formatting guidelines provided in the template. (CLO: A, C, D)

The student will write a critique of one of the qualitative articles selected (and read) from the readings (articles) provided. The critique should be a double-spaced 3—5-page review of the study’s purpose, theory, methods, and major findings. The critique should also follow current APA Professional Standards and should match the formatting guidelines provided in the template. (CLO: A, C, D)